Replacing Will Blackwell

Les Miles said that he is looking at three different names to step into the void at right guard.

Just one play
into the 2010 season, T-Bob Hebert was thrust into a position he hadn’t played
since he was nine years old.

Junior right
guard Will Blackwell’s leg injury created an immediate void in the Tiger
offensive line, but it was one that Hebert was more than willing to fill.

“I kind of
expected that if one of the guards went down my number might be called,” said
Hebert, a one-time starting center. “I had talked to (offensive line coach Greg
Studrawa) before the game just letting him know that if somebody did go down
that I felt confident that I could fill in for them on either side.”

Hebert started 11
games - and played every snap of the first seven - at center last season. The
transition to guard presents a few changes, but Hebert doesn’t anticipate a
hurdle he can’t overcome.

“Playing center
you’ve gotta know all the positions, and during the game I wasn’t having to
waste a lot of energy on the mental aspect and knowing my steps,” he said. “ We
have tests that we take before the game. You have to draw out every position’s
block. Every play I was drawing up I was focusing on the three interior
positions just in case something happened.”

Continuity and
chemistry are vital to any productive offensive line, and Blackwell’s absence
creates a number of issues on the Tiger front right out of the gate.

“Losing Will
really is a blow,” said head coach Les Miles. “I think he’s a good player. He
was a tremendous leader in that line.”

Judging by the
comments from the men he blocked for, Blackwell’s presence, even for an
experienced name like Hebert, will be tough to replace.

“Will brings that
intensity and that fire,” said quarterback Jordan Jefferson. “ He’s always
talking trash, and it really motivates us a lot.”

“For Will to go
down like that, I hate it for him. I hate it for our team,” said junior running
back Stevan Ridley, a member of the 2007 signing class which included
Blackwell. “We’ve got to gel together. We lost our starting guard. Somebody’s gotta
step in, and Will’s gonna be a coach.”

On a promising
note, many of the Tigers were quick to praise Hebert, stating that if the
coaches were to go with Hebert there would be a minimal drop in productivity.

“T-Bob is a smart
guy,” Ridley said. “A lot of people want to say that T-Bob is undersized, but
he can go at any spot. He didn’t miss a stride.”

“T-Bob’s a great
player and one of the veteran guys on this offense,” said Jefferson. “Coach
(Miles) has that trust in him to go out there and do what he has to do at
guard.”

Blackwell
underwent surgery early Sunday morning and will miss what Miles called a
substantial amount of time. Miles said that outside of Hebert, Josh Williford
and Matt Branch are candidates for the starting spot at right guard.

“I went (to the Georgia Dome) a lot as a kid. I always
aspired to get there in high school, and we always aspire every year to get
there … A bunch of my friends came down and were at the game.”

Being a lifelong center…

“I feel like the position I am still best at is center. Will
is a better guard than I am. I just want to help the team anyway I can; stay
ready and be ready to fill in.”

The possible move to right guard…

“Depending on what decision (the coaches) make, if I stay
out there I will put my all into learning that position and excelling at that
position so teams aren’t able to point me out as a weak link or try to pick on
me. I am going to work my hardest.”

On playing in the team’s opener…

“It felt good. The thing is, we work so long and so hard and
there are only a few days where you go out there and have fun and beat up on
other people. I am just thankful I got the opportunity to go out there and
play, even though it was under terrible circumstances. I’ve said it a million
times. I’m just trying to stay ready.”